U.S. patent application number 10/360851 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for image forming apparatus, image forming system, processing execution method by image forming apparatus, and processing execution program for image forming apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Suzuki, Hidenobu.
Application Number | 20040156065 10/360851 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32824073 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040156065 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Suzuki, Hidenobu |
August 12, 2004 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming system, processing execution
method by image forming apparatus, and processing execution program
for image forming apparatus
Abstract
An image forming apparatus that allow a user to choose to
display or not to display information obtained from a server, e.g.
an advertisement, which is to be displayed on a screen of the image
forming apparatus, according to the user's own will is provided.
With a multi-function image forming system 100 according to the
present invention, the user can give instructions to an image
forming apparatus 10 according to his or her own circumstances. For
example, when the user has no time to spare, he or she can select
non-consideration paying processing in which the user uses only the
image formation function. When the user has time to spare and wants
to receive an economic consideration, he or she can select
consideration paying processing in which the user gives user
information. At the consideration paying processing step, bilateral
data transfer is performed between the image forming apparatus 10
and the server 30. For example, a questionnaire provided by an
information-gathering company is sent from a questionnaire
processing unit 31 to the image forming apparatus, and user
information is collected. A coupon as a consideration is issued
from a coupon issuing processing unit 33 to the user.
Inventors: |
Suzuki, Hidenobu;
(Numazu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER
SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
|
Family ID: |
32824073 |
Appl. No.: |
10/360851 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.13 ;
358/1.15; 705/14.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101;
G06Q 30/0241 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/001.13 ;
358/001.15; 705/010 |
International
Class: |
G06F 003/12; G06F
015/00; G06F 017/60 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image forming apparatus connectable to a server through a
communication line, said apparatus comprising: a mode selection
unit capable of selectively setting a first mode of executing
processing using information obtained from said server and
processing for image formation, and a second mode of executing
processing for image formation without executing processing using
information from said server; and a processing execution unit for
executing processing according to a mode set by said mode selection
unit.
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a display unit for providing an operation screen for a
user to operate to execute processing according to a mode set by
said mode selection unit.
3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in
said first mode, information collecting operation data for
collecting information entered by the user as user information is
displayed on said display unit.
4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when
said first mode is selected, consideration paying processing for
paying a user a consideration for selection of said first mode is
performed.
5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
processing using information obtained from said server includes at
least one of advertisement providing processing for providing an
advertisement and questionnaire providing processing for providing
a questionnaire to which a user is asked to respond.
6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
processing using information obtained from said server includes
advertisement providing processing for providing an advertisement
and questionnaire providing processing for providing a
questionnaire to which a user is asked to respond, in such a manner
that either of the advertisement providing processing and the
questionnaire providing processing can be selected.
7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a processing switching unit capable of switching said
first mode to said second mode during execution of processing in
said first mode.
8. An image forming apparatus connectable to a server through a
communication line, said apparatus comprising: a first display unit
capable of displaying operation data for image formation
processing; and a second display unit capable of displaying
information obtained from said server.
9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said
second display unit displays information collecting operation data
for collecting information entered by a user as user
information.
10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said
second display unit comprises an option display panel detachably
provided on a body of said image forming apparatus.
11. An image forming apparatus connectable to a server through a
communication line, said apparatus comprising: non-consideration
paying processing execution means for executing non-consideration
paying processing in which a user is allowed to use only an image
formation function and paid no consideration; consideration paying
processing execution means for executing consideration paying
processing in which the user is allowed to use the image formation
function, and in which said consideration paying processing
execution means receives user information and pays the user a
consideration for the user information; and selection means for
making a selection between the processing executed by said
non-consideration paying processing execution means and the
processing executed by said consideration paying processing
execution means.
12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said
consideration paying processing execution means reads data for said
consideration paying processing from said server to execute said
processing.
13. An image forming system comprising: a server; and an image
forming apparatus connectable to said server through a
communication line; wherein said image forming apparatus includes:
a mode selection unit capable of selectively setting a first mode
of executing processing using information obtained from said server
and processing for image formation, and a second mode of executing
processing for image formation without executing processing using
information from said server; and a processing execution unit for
executing processing according to a mode set by said mode selection
unit; said server including: an information collecting data
transmission unit for transmitting data for information collection
in response to a request from said image forming apparatus; and a
user information reception unit for receiving said user information
transmitted from said image forming apparatus.
14. A processing execution method by an image forming apparatus
connectable to a server through a communication line, said method
comprising: a mode selection step of allowing a selection between a
first mode of executing either processing for performing
advertisement using information obtained from said server or
processing for collecting information from a user and also
executing processing for image formation, and a second mode of
executing processing for image formation without executing
processing for performing advertisement using information obtained
from said server or processing for collecting information from the
user; and a processing execution step of executing processing using
information obtained from said server when the first mode is
selected at said mode selection step.
15. A processing execution program for executing processing by an
image forming apparatus connectable to a server through a
communication line, said program comprising: a mode selection step
of allowing a selection between a first mode of executing either
processing for performing advertisement using information obtained
from said server or processing for collecting information from a
user and also executing processing for image formation, and a
second mode of executing processing for image formation without
executing processing for performing advertisement using information
obtained from said server or processing for collecting information
from the user; and a processing execution step of executing
processing using information obtained from said server when the
first mode is selected at said mode selection step.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus,
an image forming system, a processing execution method by an image
forming apparatus, and a processing execution program for an image
forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates
to an image forming apparatus having an MFP (Multi-Function
Peripheral) function and provided with a large-screen display,
which is connectable to a server through a network.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional image forming apparatus, e.g. a certain type
of MFP, asks a user a question through an on-screen advertisement,
collects necessary information from the user's answer, pays the
user some consideration for the information, and utilizes the
collected information in accordance with a particular purpose,
thereby making use of the function of the MFP even more
effectively.
[0005] The above-described conventional image forming apparatus is
not provided with the function of allowing the user to choose
freely not to respond to an advertisement displayed on the screen
of the image forming apparatus when he or she does not want to see
the on-screen advertisement or answer an asked question or the
like, or when the user wants to perform image formation (copying)
immediately without responding to the on-screen advertisement.
Therefore, some users may feel considerable stress.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention was made to solve the above-described
problems. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, a
processing execution method by an image forming apparatus and a
processing execution program for an image forming apparatus that
allow a user to choose to display or not to display information
provided by a server, which is to be displayed on a screen of the
image forming apparatus, according to the user's own will.
[0007] To attain this purpose, the present invention provides an
image forming apparatus connectable to a server through a
communication line. The image forming apparatus has a mode
selection unit capable of selectively setting a first mode of
executing processing using information obtained from the server and
processing for image formation, and a second mode of executing
processing for image formation without executing processing using
information from the server. The image forming apparatus further
has a processing execution unit for executing processing according
to a mode set by the mode selection unit.
[0008] Further, the image forming apparatus according to the
present invention has a display unit for providing an operation
screen for a user to operate to execute processing according to a
mode set by the mode selection unit.
[0009] Further, the image forming apparatus according to the
present invention is arranged such that, in the first mode,
information collecting operation data for collecting information
entered by the user as user information is displayed on the display
unit.
[0010] Further, the image forming apparatus according to the
present invention is arranged such that when the first mode is
selected, consideration paying processing for paying the user a
consideration for the selection of the first mode is performed.
[0011] In the image forming apparatus according to the present
invention, the processing using information obtained from the
server includes at least one of advertisement providing processing
for providing an advertisement and questionnaire providing
processing for providing a questionnaire to which the user is asked
to respond.
[0012] In the image forming apparatus according to the present
invention, the processing using information obtained from the
server includes advertisement providing processing for providing an
advertisement and questionnaire providing processing for providing
a questionnaire to which the user is asked to respond, in such a
manner that either of the advertisement providing processing and
the questionnaire providing processing can be selected.
[0013] Further, the image forming apparatus according to the
present invention has a processing switching unit capable of
switching the first mode to the second mode during execution of
processing in the first mode.
[0014] In addition, the present invention provides an image forming
apparatus connectable to a server through a communication line. The
image forming apparatus has a first display unit capable of
displaying operation data for image formation processing, and a
second display unit capable of displaying information obtained from
the server.
[0015] In the image forming apparatus according to the present
invention, the second display unit displays information collecting
operation data for collecting information entered by a user as user
information.
[0016] In the image forming apparatus according to the present
invention, the second display unit comprises an option display
panel detachably provided on the body of the image forming
apparatus.
[0017] In addition, the present invention provides an image forming
apparatus connectable to a server through a communication line. The
image forming apparatus has non-consideration paying processing
execution means for executing non-consideration paying processing
in which a user is allowed to use only an image formation function
and paid no consideration, and consideration paying processing
execution means for executing consideration paying processing in
which the user is allowed to use the image formation function, and
in which the consideration paying processing execution means
receives user information and pays the user a consideration for the
user information. The image forming apparatus further has selection
means for making a selection between the processing executed by the
non-consideration paying processing execution means and the
processing executed by the consideration paying processing
execution means.
[0018] In the image forming apparatus according to the present
invention, the consideration paying processing execution means
reads data for the consideration paying processing from the server
to execute the processing.
[0019] In addition, the present invention provides an image forming
system having a server and an image forming apparatus connectable
to the server through a communication line. The image forming
apparatus has a mode selection unit capable of selectively setting
a first mode of executing processing using information obtained
from the server and processing for image formation, and a second
mode of executing processing for image formation without executing
processing using information from the server. The image forming
apparatus further has a processing execution unit for executing
processing according to a mode set by the mode selection unit. The
server has an information collecting data transmission unit for
transmitting data for information collection in response to a
request from the image forming apparatus. The server further has a
user information reception unit for receiving the user information
transmitted from the image forming apparatus.
[0020] In addition, the present invention provides a processing
execution method by an image forming apparatus connectable to a
server through a communication line. The processing execution
method has a mode selection step of allowing a selection between a
first mode of executing either processing for performing
advertisement using information obtained from the server or
processing for collecting information from a user and also
executing processing for image formation, and a second mode of
executing processing for image formation without executing
processing for performing advertisement using information obtained
from the server or processing for collecting information from the
user. The processing execution method further has a processing
execution step of executing processing using information obtained
from the server when the first mode is selected at the mode
selection step.
[0021] In addition, the present invention provides a processing
execution program for executing processing by an image forming
apparatus connectable to a server through a communication line. The
processing execution program has a mode selection step of allowing
a selection between a first mode of executing either processing for
performing advertisement using information obtained from the server
or processing for collecting information from a user and also
executing processing for image formation, and a second mode of
executing processing for image formation without executing
processing for performing advertisement using information obtained
from the server or processing for collecting information from the
user. The processing execution program further has a processing
execution step of executing processing using information obtained
from the server when the first mode is selected at the mode
selection step.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image
forming system according to the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an
image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the
multi-function image forming system shown in FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an
image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0027] First Embodiment:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image
forming system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a
block diagram showing the arrangement of an image forming apparatus
shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation
of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1. An image forming
system 100 in FIG. 1 has an image forming apparatus (MFP) 10, a
network 20, and a server 30. The image forming apparatus 10 has an
MFP function unit 11 and a large-screen operation panel 12. The
server 30 has a questionnaire processing unit 31, an advertisement
processing unit 32, a coupon issuing processing unit 33, and a
response processing unit 34.
[0029] The image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is capable of
image formation (copying) by the function of the MFP function unit
11 and also capable of performing data transmission or telephony
through the network 20 as well as capable of displaying a necessary
image on the large-screen operation panel 12. In particular, the
image forming apparatus 10 can take in information relating to
advertisement or the like from the server 30 through the network 20
at the request of a user of the image forming apparatus 10 and
presents the information to the user by using the large-screen
operation panel 12. A more detailed arrangement of the image
forming apparatus is shown in FIG. 2. The image forming apparatus
10 has an image read unit 11A for scanning an image to obtain
electronic data; an image formation unit 11B for forming an image
from the electronic data; a communication interface 11C for
connecting the image forming apparatus 10 to a communication line,
e.g. a telephone line or the internet; a control unit (MFP control
unit) 11D for the image forming apparatus 10; a control program
storage unit 11E for storing programs to be executed by the control
unit 11D; an MFP operation display data storage unit 11F for
storing display data for operating the image forming apparatus 10;
an information collection display data storage unit 11G for
temporarily storing information obtained from the server 30 to
present an advertisement to the user and to perform questionnaire
processing; and a panel display unit (large-screen operation panel
12) for performing operation display for executing image formation
processing and also performing advertisement display and
questionnaire operation display for executing questionnaire
processing. It should be noted that the large-screen operation
panel 12 also constitutes a selector/switching unit for making a
selection between modes (described later) and for switching between
processing operations, for example, switching the questionnaire
processing as selected to the image formation processing in the
middle of the questionnaire processing.
[0030] The questionnaire processing unit 31 of the server 30
previously stores questionnaires that information-gathering
companies or the like wish to submit, and sends a stored
questionnaire to the image forming apparatus 10 on the basis of a
user's selection from the image forming apparatus 10, whereby it is
possible to ask the user of the image forming apparatus 10 to
answer the questionnaire. The advertisement processing unit 32
previously stores advertisements from advertisers. The
advertisement processing unit 32 classifies types of business to
which advertisements belong according to fields of business and
stores advertisements according to the fields of business. When it
is requested to provide an advertisement from the image forming
apparatus 10, the advertisement processing unit 32 can select an
advertisement falling in the requested field from the stored
advertisements and send the selected advertisement to the image
forming apparatus 10.
[0031] The coupon issuing processing unit 33 can issue a coupon
from the image forming apparatus 10 as a consideration for the
action of the user of the image forming apparatus 10 when he or she
viewed the above-described advertisement or responded to the
questionnaire. The face value of the coupon has previously been set
by a notice from stores where the image forming apparatus 10 is
installed or from a management company that supervises these
stores. The response processing unit 34 collects information from
the image forming apparatus 10 in association with the operation of
the questionnaire processing unit 31, etc. and stores the collected
information so that it can be provided to an information-gathering
company or the like in the form of collected and classified
information.
[0032] Next, the operation of the foregoing multi-function image
forming system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. At
the time of initialization, the MFP function unit 11 (MFP control
unit 11D) of the image forming apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 instructs the
large-screen operation panel 12 to display a frame inquiring
whether or not to perform a display concerning advertisement. The
user of the image forming apparatus 10 gives an instruction on
whether or not to perform a display concerning advertisement
besides image formation (copying) by using keys provided on the MFP
function unit 11 or an icon displayed on the large-screen operation
panel 12. The MFP function unit 11 judges whether or not the given
instruction is to perform a display concerning advertisement
(S11).
[0033] If it is judged at step S11 that the given instruction is to
perform a display concerning advertisement, the MFP function unit
11 inquires of the user whether he or she will respond to data
collection questions concerning him or her (e.g. a questionnaire)
or the user wants to simply view an advertisement, and judges
whether the user will respond to data collection questions or wants
to simply view an advertisement (S12). If it is judged at step S12
that the given instruction means that the user wants to simply view
an advertisement, the MFP function unit 11 receives an applicable
advertisement from the advertisement processing unit 32 through the
network 20 and displays it on the panel 12 (S13). Then, the MFP
function unit 11 issues, for example, a coupon as a consideration
for the user's viewing the advertisement or performs setting of a
charge discount (S14). In this case, it is preferable that the
response processing unit 34 should store the number of times at
which the display of the advertisement has been selected to report
it to the advertiser. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 10
accepts various settings of the image formation function (copying
function) (S15) and performs image formation according to the
accepted settings (S16) to complete a series of processing
operations for image formation.
[0034] If it is judged at the above-described step S11 that the
given instruction is not to perform a display concerning
advertisement, the process shifts to step S15. Thus, the process
immediately shifts to the operation for image formation. If it is
judged at step S12 that the given instruction means that the user
will respond to data collection questions concerning him or her,
the MFP function unit 11 instructs the panel 12 to display a user
profile frame and asks the user to enter items that an advertiser
or an information-gathering company needs, e.g. sex, age, e-mail
address, telephone number, and address (S17). Thereafter, the MFP
function unit 11 inquires of the user whether or not he or she will
respond to a more detailed questionnaire, and judges whether the
user's answer is YES or NO (S18). If the user answers to the effect
that he or she will not respond to a detailed questionnaire, the
MFP function unit 11 asks the user which field his or her desired
advertisement is in to shift to the advertisement display step, and
receives a selected field (Sl9). Then, the process shifts to step
S13 to display an advertisement in the selected field.
[0035] If the user answers to the effect that he or she will
respond to a detailed questionnaire at step S18, the MFP function
unit 11 instructs the large-screen operation panel 12 to display
questions for a detailed questionnaire (S20). When an answer is
obtained (S21), the MFP function unit 11 judges whether or not all
the questions have been completed (S22). If all the questions have
not yet been completed, the process returns to step S20. If all the
questions have been completed, the process shifts to step S14. In
this case, it is preferable that the response processing unit 34
should store the contents processed at step S18 and the following
steps as well as the contents processed at step S13 and the
following steps to report them to the advertiser, etc. Even when
the user views an advertisement or responds to an questionnaire at
the above-described steps, he or she can give up the right to
receive a consideration in the middle of viewing the advertisement
or responding to the questionnaire and proceed to step S15 to
execute the operation for image formation immediately.
[0036] Second Embodiment:
[0037] The foregoing first embodiment uses a single large-screen
operation panel to perform advertisement display and questionnaire
display as well as operation display for image formation
processing. However, the image forming apparatus (MFP) may have two
display panels, as shown in FIG. 4, e.g. a large-screen operation
panel (first panel display unit) 12A and an option display unit
(second panel display unit) 12B, which is a sub-operation panel. In
this case, for example, the first panel display unit 12A displays
an operation method for image formation processing, and the second
panel display unit 12B performs advertisement display and
questionnaire display by using information obtained from the server
30. For example, the processing operations at steps S11 to S14 and
steps S17 to S22 in FIG. 3 are executed by using the second panel
display unit. It should be noted that constituent elements in FIG.
4 that are identical or equivalent to those in FIG. 1 are denoted
by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof is herein
omitted. The arrangement of the second embodiment allows the user
to perform image formation processing while visually recognizing
advertisement display or executing questionnaire processing, for
example. Thus, temporal efficiency can be increased. Meanwhile, on
the server operator side, the advertisement or information
collection can be performed for more users. Thus, the operating
efficiency of the sever can be increased.
[0038] As has been detailed above, the present invention allows the
user of the image forming apparatus to give instructions to the
image forming apparatus according to his or her own circumstances.
For example, when the user has no time to spare, he or she can
select non-consideration paying processing in which the user uses
only the image formation function. When the user has time to spare
and wants to receive an economic consideration, he or she can
select consideration paying processing in which the user gives user
information. Thus, the user can use the image forming apparatus
according to the user's own will. Therefore, the user is less
likely to feel stress.
[0039] Further, when the consideration paying processing step is
selected by the user in the foregoing embodiment, the image forming
apparatus reads the consideration paying processing step from the
server and executes it. Accordingly, even if a large number of
image forming apparatuses are located through a network, the
operation for the program concerning the consideration paying
processing step needs to be performed only for the server, which is
efficient.
[0040] Further, the consideration paying processing is shiftable to
the non-consideration paying processing in the middle of execution
of the consideration paying processing with giving up the right to
receive a consideration. Accordingly, it is easy to switch between
processing operations in a case where it becomes necessary to
hasten to use the image formation function in the middle of
execution of the consideration paying processing.
* * * * *